Volume One, Chapter 16: Ye Feng, I Wish to Honor You as My Adoptive Mother!

Jinsuo was instantly a bit flustered. For some reason, every time Ye Feng spoke, it irritated her. Ever since she had rejected Ye Feng at the door, it seemed like he was always trying to pick on her.

Pouting, Jinsuo snapped angrily, “I advise you to think carefully—Madam’s condition is even worse than last time!” A flicker of worry appeared in her eyes.

“That hotpot thing of yours, I’ve had others try it too,” she continued. “Though it wasn’t as good as what you made, it was still about seventy or eighty percent there. But Madam still showed no sign of happiness after eating.”

Jinsuo added, “What Madam said just now wasn’t an exaggeration; if she loses control of her emotions… Ye Feng, you’ll be in trouble.” Her tone suddenly held a trace of schadenfreude.

After all, Madam seemed unusually tolerant of Ye Feng. If it were anyone else, she would have lost patience long ago and wouldn’t have said so much. Yet in front of Ye Feng, she rarely suppressed her cold nature. This was a good sign; at least Ye Feng wouldn’t perish because of it.

Ye Feng waved his hand, beckoning Jinsuo over and instructing her to prepare the iron pot, spiritual spring water, and ingredients. Then, he turned to the cold and aloof Lin Pinru and said, “Go pick out a bottle of fine spirit wine.”

Lin Pinru slightly raised her brow, glanced at Ye Feng, but said nothing. Still, she selected a jade bottle from among many spirit wines, though her uninterested demeanor suggested she was being perfunctory.

Without further words, Ye Feng casually tossed out a large chunk of the premium hotpot base gifted by the system with a clang. The rich spiritual energy churned within the pot. As ingredients were added, the spicy aroma reemerged.

Though Lin Pinru was somewhat reluctant, her throat involuntarily moved. Jinsuo stood dumbfounded beside them, muttering, “I followed your instructions, so why can’t Madam or I taste this flavor?”

“Ye Feng, are you hiding something from us?” she asked.

Ye Feng chuckled and waved his sleeve, creating a small mountain of hotpot base worth hundreds. “Is this enough for you all? Besides here, I’ve never let others try these ingredients elsewhere. You should be grateful.”

Jinsuo pouted, feigning disdain but secretly pleased. After all, who wouldn’t feel special being singled out for such exclusive favor?

Sure enough, Ye Feng glanced at Madam Jin and saw her once icy expression soften considerably, though it hadn’t fully melted away.

Jinsuo was initially happy to see Madam show appetite but felt uneasy upon noticing Lin Pinru’s expression. She discreetly pulled Ye Feng aside. “Do you have any other ideas? Madam still isn’t happy—what do we do?”

Ye Feng smiled. “Didn’t you say if I couldn’t cheer up your Madam, you’d grind me into minced meat?”

“Now you’re begging me?”

Jinsuo wanted to tear Ye Feng’s mouth off. Couldn’t he just say less?

Ye Feng grinned broadly. “I do have another method.”

Jinsuo, anxious, ignored his previous antics. She only wanted Lin Pinru back to normal because those cold, frosty days were unbearable. Lin Pinru had treated her with great kindness; how could she watch her turn into an ice statue?

“Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up! There’s a reward for Madam!” she urged.

Ye Feng shook his head and looked at Jinsuo. “Did you forget something?”

Jinsuo blinked, puzzled. “Can you stop beating around the bush? Just say it! Madam’s situation is serious!”

Ye Feng didn’t hide it. “Remember the bet we made last time?”

“I was going to let you off easily, but you, little girl, are so petty,” he said. “You even dared to threaten to turn me into minced meat.”

“Now, if you want to heal your Madam, you have to massage my shoulders and back first.”

Jinsuo was stunned. It was just an offhand joke in a moment of frustration—why did Ye Feng hold a grudge? She wasn’t petty!

“Ye Feng, don’t push your luck!”

Ye Feng remained silent, but Lin Pinru’s eyes gleamed with a hint of interest. Watching their bickering, she didn’t intervene.

Jinsuo pouted angrily and shouted, “Madam, look at Ye Feng—he’s bullying me again!”

But Lin Pinru ignored her, focused on eating the hotpot and watching the two.

Seeing Lin Pinru’s indifference, Jinsuo stomped her foot and huffed at Ye Feng, “Fine, I’ll do it! I’ll press you to death, you bastard!”

Ye Feng laughed. “I advise you to go easy—if you injure me, who’ll make your Madam happy?”

Jinsuo wanted to rip Ye Feng apart. She had never met anyone so infuriating. But for Lin Pinru’s sake, she swallowed her pride and began massaging Ye Feng’s shoulders.

“More to the left. Haven’t you eaten? Harder to the right. If you crush me, who’ll take responsibility?” she grumbled, nearly hopping in frustration.

When she finished, she eagerly said, “Ye Feng, hurry up and make Madam better! If you can’t, I’ll kill you!”

She felt so wronged. Since becoming Madam’s maid, she had only ever massaged her shoulders, never touched a foul man. After so long, she felt dirty and promised herself to wash her hands thoroughly afterward.

Ye Feng smiled at Lin Pinru. From his observations, he was almost certain of her condition. Though not fully normal, the oppressive coldness in her emotions had eased significantly. This indirectly confirmed the accuracy of Lin Pinru’s diary.

Her unhappiness wasn’t intentional. She was gifted and practiced a special cultivation method that rapidly increased her power but had a subtle side effect: the more she practiced, the colder her temperament became, until she lost ordinary human feelings.

Lin Pinru’s current state clearly showed she had reached a deep level in this practice.

According to her diary, strong emotional fluctuations—feelings like shame or curiosity—could quickly restore her. Yet the joy from hotpot no longer satisfied her threshold; something more stimulating was needed.

Thinking of Lin Pinru’s recorded little quirks, Ye Feng smiled wryly.

Jinsuo, noticing the expression, immediately stood guard in front of Lin Pinru. “Ye Feng, what are you thinking of doing? I warn you, don’t act recklessly! If Madam doesn’t recover, your beating is inevitable. Don’t say I didn’t warn you about serious injuries!”

Ye Feng rolled his eyes at her, then turned to Lin Pinru with a compliment: “Madam Lin, you always dress so elegantly. Not seeing you for days, you seem even more beautiful than before. I wonder what skincare regimen you use?”

Lin Pinru looked puzzled but, receiving the praise, felt a slight strange sensation deep inside.

Jinsuo felt a bad premonition. That opening line seemed familiar. Ye Feng wouldn’t dare take advantage of Madam again, would he?

She immediately snapped, “No! Ye Feng, cut it out!”

Yet Lin Pinru waved her away gently, stepping aside, and seriously told Ye Feng, “There’s a hint of something there. Ye Feng, continue.”

Hearing such an unreasonable request, how could Ye Feng refuse? Normally, Lin Pinru’s status was so high no one dared speak like this to her. Anyone who did would have been torn to pieces long ago. But now, in this state, she was somewhat interested in Ye Feng.

So Ye Feng’s flattery came unrelenting.

“Madam, your skin is so fine, so fair! That smoothness is like a peeled egg—captivating to behold!”

“Madam, I still remember the spiritual garment you wore last time—it was both elegant and wise. If I may, could I feast my eyes on it again?”

As Ye Feng’s increasingly ridiculous compliments flew, Jinsuo nearly bruised her palms from clapping. She told herself it was all for Madam’s treatment, but strange thoughts filled her mind.

That damned Ye Feng was clearly trying to take advantage! Such shameless words came easily from his mouth—and Madam actually tolerated them?

Jinsuo couldn’t help but lament internally: Madam has changed! Ever since Ye Feng appeared, everything seems different! This devil truly lives up to his name.

Lin Pinru listened but her eyes showed a trace of disappointment. She shook her head softly and said to Ye Feng, “Although there’s some effect, it’s not enough. Ye Feng, I feel like I’m losing control of my emotions—I want to strike you.”

Ye Feng’s heart skipped a beat. Nearby, Jinsuo burst out laughing, gloating, “Serves you right! Who told you to be so improper with Madam!”

At this point, Lin Pinru’s condition was much improved, and Jinsuo relaxed, smiling, “Madam, Ye Feng deserves a beating! As long as you don’t kill him, I’ll fully support it!”

Ye Feng stared at them, feeling a chill down his spine. They say beautiful women are like wolves and tigers, full of cunning. He hadn’t expected their thirst for revenge to be even fiercer than ordinary people’s.

Lin Pinru’s cold nature came from her cultivation method and was understandable, but Jinsuo’s vengefulness was truly overwhelming.

Just as the coldness returned to Lin Pinru, Ye Feng shuddered and urgently called out, “Wait!”

Lin Pinru and Jinsuo stopped in unison, watching Ye Feng.

At that moment, Ye Feng gazed at Lin Pinru with deep affection, his sincerity making Jinsuo tremble.

Lin Pinru’s eyes widened, looking at Ye Feng as she asked, “What are you trying to do?”

Suddenly, Ye Feng grabbed Lin Pinru’s hand, his eyes full of earnestness.

“Madam Lin, my parents are both deceased, and I’m alone here at the Gathering of Immortals. Though we’ve met only twice, I feel a deep connection. If you don’t mind, I, Ye Feng, wish to adopt you as my sworn mother!”

Jinsuo, ready to curse, was left speechless, her mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.

She had expected Ye Feng to say countless outrageous things, but never imagined he could be shameless enough to declare his own Madam as his sworn mother.

How could he have the nerve to say such a thing?